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2 mins ago
FBI Says Classified Documents Were Taken to 'Unauthorized Location' at Trump's Mar-a-Lago
The affidavit states that the initial FBI investigation determined that classified documents containing national security information were stored in an "unauthorized location" at Mar-a-Lago.
"The FBI investigation established that documents with classification marks, which appear to contain National Defense Information (NDI), were among the materials contained in the 15 BOXES and were stored on the FACILITY at a location unauthorized," it reads.
The “15 boxes” are a reference to the 15 containers of material that were removed from Mar-a-Lago in January.
And "the facility" refers to Trump's resort and personal residence at Mar-a-Lago.
Federal investigators also cited former President Donald Trump's residential suite, his "Office 45" and other locations at Mar-a-Lago in the document.
The agents also wrote that none of the spaces in the Trump residence had been authorized for the storage of classified information.
"Based on this investigation, I believe that the STORAGE ROOM, the former President's residential suite, Pine Hall, 'Office 45,' and other spaces within the FACILITY are not currently authorized locations for the storage of classified information or NDI," supports the affidavit.
"Likewise, based on this investigation, I do not believe that any space within the FACILITY has been authorized for the storage of classified information since at least the end of the Presidential Administration of the former President on January 20, 2021."
4 mins ago
The goal of the criminal investigation against Trump
Former President Donald Trump's residence, Mar-a-Lago, is seen on August 9.
(Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)
The document notes that the FBI opened a criminal investigation after the National Archives sent a notice on February 9.
The affidavit details four main goals of the criminal investigation.
To "determine how documents bearing classification marks and records were removed from the White House (or any other authorized location for the storage of classified materials) and came to be stored at [Mar-a-Lago]."
To "determine whether the storage locations at [Mar-a-Lago] were authorized locations to store classified information."
To "determine whether additional classified documents or records may have been stored in an unauthorized location at [Mar-a-Lago] or at another unknown location, and remain at such location."
To "identify any person who has removed or retained classified information without authorization and/or in an unauthorized space".
6 mins ago
The redacted affidavit has been published
An edited version of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit has been released following the orders of a federal judge.
CNN is reviewing the document now.
The affidavit was filed by the Justice Department when it sought a warrant to search former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property earlier this month.
It establishes why investigators believed there was probable cause that crimes had been committed and the material that FBI agents expected to find at the residence.
The public release comes a day after US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart ordered the Justice Department to release a redacted version of the affidavit.
The edits in the document released Friday were proposed by the Justice Department and accepted by Reinhart.
Federal prosecutors said the redactions were necessary to protect cooperating witnesses and keep information secret from the grand jury.
CNN's Marshall Cohen contributed to this article.
6 mins ago
The Justice Department met the deadline and submitted the redacted document
The Justice Department released an edited version of the affidavit on the search warrant for former President Donald Trump's residence in Mar-a-Lago on Friday.
Federal investigators used this document to convince a judge that there was probable cause for felony commission, paving the way for the Mar-a-Lago search to be authorized.
Thus, the agency complies with the deadline imposed by a federal judge to reveal the redacted version of the affidavit on the registry.
donald trump